Umbrella

ABSTRACT

An umbrella wherein the dome ribs and the support structure and a part of the stick define a triangular structure when the umbrella is in an open position. The stretcher is connected to the auxiliary runner while the support structures are connected to the main runner and to the stretcher members. The outer section of the dome ribs extending beyond the triangular structure defined by the dome ribs and the stretcher members is flexible and is bowed concavely when a cover is tightened about the umbrella.

I United States Patent 1 [111 3,732,880 Weber [4 1 May 15, 1973 54] UMBRELLA 3,439,691 4/1969 Weber ..135/26 2,775,977 1 I957 H t ..135 26 [75] Inventor: Heinz Weber, 40l l-lilden, Germany aup [73] Assignee: Telesco Brophey Limited, Montreal, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Quebec, Canada 1,199,527 6/1959 France ..135/28 27, l 5 3 l Flled: J y 22,1970 3 550 9/ 95 Switzerland 1 5/3 [21] A l, No 57,175 Primary ExaminerJ. Karl Bell A ttorney- Alan Swabey [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT July 25,1969 Germany ..P 19 37 890.6 An umbrella wherein the dome ribs and the pp July 25, 1969 Germany ..G 69 29 502.9 Structure and a part of the Stick define a triangular Oct. 25, 1969 Germany ..P 19 53 795.2 Structure when the umbrella is in an Open position The stretcher is connected to the auxiliary runner U-S. Clthe upport tructures are connected to the main Int. Cl. ..A45b runner and to the tretcher members The outer sec- [58] Field Of Search ..135/20, 25-28, {ion of the dome ribs extending beyond the triangular 135/3741 structure defined by the dome ribs and the stretcher members is flexible and is bowed concavely when a [5 6] References Cited cover is tightened about the umbrella.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 2,047,711 7/1936 Siers ..l35/27IX PATEFHEU 5W5 3,732. 880

SHEET 10F 3 FIG.

FIG. 4

FIG. 5 77 INVENTOR Heinz WEBER PATH-HEB HAY 1 5 1W5 3, 732, 88G

SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR Heinz WEBER ATTORNEY PATH-mu 51m 3,732,880

SHEET 3 BF 3 FIG 6 FIG? [-7618 FIG. 9

INVENTOR Heinz WEBER 1 UIWBRELLA 1. Field of Invention I The present invention relates to an umbrella and particularly to an umbrella of the collapsible type.

2. Description of Prior Art In umbrellas of the collapsible type the support system supporting the dome ribs usually occupies a considerable amount of space, which frequently limits the available head room under the umbrella when it is open.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a collapsible umbrella which will improve stability in use, together with compact folding and increased available head room.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION A construction in accordance with the present invention includes an umbrella provided with a telescopic stick, a crown at one end of the stick, dome ribs hinged to the crown, and each dome rib having at least two telescopic parts extending with the outer part telescoped within the first part closest to the crown in a closed position and the two telescopic parts being fully extended when in an open position, a main runner slidable on the stick and an auxiliary runner slidable on the stick between the 7 main runner and the crown. Stretcher members extend from the auxiliary runner to the dome ribs for supporting the dome ribs and form a triangular structure with the dome ribs and the length of stick between the crown and the auxiliary runner. Support struts extend from the main runner to the stretcher members to support the stretcher members.

Further the auxiliary runner is provided with a releasable locking means for engaging the umbrella stick, at a point spaced from the crown so that the length of the stick between the crown and the auxiliary runner forms the base of the structural triangle.

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention the umbrella is a three-stage type of umbrella as described in copending application Ser. No. 035,184 filed May 6, 1970 now US. Pat. No. 3,699,988.

In a three-stage umbrella there is provided a telescopic stick, a crown at one end of the stick, dome ribs hinged to the crown, and each of the dome ribs having three telescopic parts extending with the two outer parts telescoped within the first part in a closed position and three parts being extended to the fully extended line position when the umbrella is in an open condition, and a main runner slidable on the stick and an auxiliary runner slidable on the stick between the main runner and the crown. Articulated stretcher means extends from the auxiliary runner to the dome ribs and strut means are connected to the stretcher members and to the main runner.

A further feature of the present invention and particularly to providing more head room under the umbrella is that the central portion of the umbrella particularly that part defined by the inner and central dome rib sections which are rigid and which form part of the triangular structure with the stretcher members is relatively flat while the outer section of the dome ribs is of a flexible material such that when a dome rib cover is tightened about the umbrella frame, the outer section bows downwardly to give the umbrella cover a concave arched portion in the area of the outer sections of the dome ribs. Furthermore, if the umbrella is caught in relatively high winds, the umbrella will blow out only in that arched bowed portion, that is the outer section of the dome ribs without disturbing the triangular structure of the support means and the remaining dome rib sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings showing by way of illustration an embodiment thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of an embodiment of the umbrella according to the present invention, the umbrella being in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the umbrella shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the umbrella shown in FIG. 1 partly in cross section;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a detail of the umbrella shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a detail shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a detail of the umbrella shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; 1

FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 6 showing the detail of FIG. 6 in a different position; and

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross section taken through lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

The collapsible umbrella has a telescoping umbrella stick 1 consisting of tubular parts 2 and 3, the latter being the inner tube. It is secured in the extended position by the usual ball and spring catch 4.

Located at the end of tube 3 is a carrying handle 5 provided in the usual manner with an annular recess for the accommodation of the free ends 6 of dome ribs.

Main runner 7 and auxiliary runner 8 slide on the umbrella stick 1.

Tubular stick portion 2 carries crown 9 to which dome ribs 6 are hinged.

Each dome rib 6 comprises three sections of approximately the same length, namely inner section 6a close to the umbrella crown, central section 6b, and outer section 60. The sections telescope into each other. Whereas, a U-shaped cross section is preferred for sections 6a and 6b, outer section 6c is made of flexible material of circular cross section.

Associated with each dome rib 6 is a support system.

This support system comprises the following components: stretcher members 10 and 13, strut 11, and link 39. Stretcher 10 extends from auxiliary runner 8 to which it is hinged.

Strut 11 is hinged to main runner 7 and to stretcher 10 at 14. Stretcher 13 is hinged to the dome ribs 6 by means of geats 50. When the umbrella is open, stretchers 10 and 13 extend almost in a straight line in relation to each other, i.e., in their operative positions, the stretchers act as a single support member. Both have U-shaped sections, the open U-sides pointing in opposite directions.

Overhang 38 of the stretcher 13 which projects beyond hinge pin 17 towards the stick a distance 38 and support the stretcher 10 in the linear extended position.

Link 39, made out of wire, is hooked at one end to web 40 of stretcher 13 which has a corresponding aperture 41. The other end of the said link is hinged internally of strut 1 l, by means of an inwardly punched projection 11 of the material. The corresponding end of the link 39 is formed into an eye. The link 39 is also slightly bowed outwardly.

When the umbrella is open, auxiliary runner 8 lies relatively close to crown 9. In its end position it comes up against stop 43 on external umbrella stick tube 2.

Stop 43 is the upper edge of a recess 44 in tube 2.

A pawl 45 serves as the catch means securing the position assumed. The said pawl is a tongue cut out of the wall 8 of the auxiliary runner sleeve. The head 46 passes into recess 44. Adequate resilience is inherent in the material (plastic) to cause the pawl 45' to tend towards the stick. Head 46 has a sloped surface 47. This extends over two-thirds of the length of the head 46 and when it reaches the highest point of projection, it slopes down again to the axis of the stick as far as surface 48 which cooperates with stop surface 43.

The locked position according to FIG. 6 may be released by shortening the umbrella stick, when the front edge lying towards the crown of inner tube 3 runs up on to control surface 47 and moves pawl 45 outwards (FIG. 8), releasing the auxiliary runner 8 to move in both directions by overcoming a residual resistance. By maintaining for as long as possible the locked engaged position of the auxiliary runner, satisfactory conditions are provided bothfor easy opening and for folding the umbrella frame.

In a geats 50, a hinge pin 52 is provided which extends across the geats 50 between the legs thereof. Stretcher member 13 is hingedly connected to this pin 52. The geats 50 is saddled over the central dome rib portion 6b. Central portion 6b which is of generally U- shaped section terminates in a portion 54 which is of circular cross section. The outer rib section 60 which is of wire construction passes through the sleeve-like portion of the central section 6b and is bent downwardly and is connected to the hinge pin 52 in the geats 50.

As can be seen from the drawings, when the umbrella is in a fully extended position, a triangular structure is provided between the dome rib sections 6a, 6b in the stretcher members and 13 with the apex being at the geats 50. The base of the triangular structure is the stick member 2 between the crown 9 and the auxiliary runner 8 which is spaced from the crown 9. The dome rib sections 6a and 6b forming part of the triangular structure are relatively rigid and form a flat surface with the other dome ribs. However, the outer section 60 is of flexible wire material and can be bowed quite easily when the cover material is applied to the dome ribs so that the outer section 6c forms a concave arch Z downwardly from the flattened surface provided by the dome rib sections 6 and 6b. Since the stretcher members extend from the auxiliary runner in this umbrella and the struts extend from the main rib up to the stretcher members as shown in the drawings, greater head room is provided underneath the umbrella. Also since the largest portion of .the umbrella is flattened and only the other sections are bowed downwardly the head room underneath the umbrella is further increased.

! claim:

1. An umbrella frame having a telescopic stick; a crown at one end of the stick; dome ribs hinged to the crown, each dome rib comprising telescopically related sections; a main runner slidably mounted on the stick;

an auxiliary runner slidably mounted on the stick for movement between the main runner and the crown; stretcher means pivotally connected to the auxiliary runner and the dome ribs, said stretcher means including mutually hinged inner and outer members foldable downwardly toward each other at a hinge point, the outer member being pivotally connected to the dome ribs and having an extension portion extending beyond said hinge point; struts hinged to the main runner and to the inner members of the stretcher means in spaced relation between said auxiliary runner and said hinge point, the improvement comprising link means hingedly connected to the struts below the hinged connection of the struts to said inner members, said link means being hingedly connected to the extension portion of said outer members in spaced relation from said hinge point, the link means, hinge connections, portions of said strut means, extension portion, and inner member forming a quadrilateral beneath said stretcher means and being so constructed and arranged to apply tension to said link means when the frame is erected to pull on the extension portion of said outer member for drawing the outer stretcher member into linear relation with said inner member beneath a portion of said inner stretcher member.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said link means comprises an intermediately bowed wire which tends to straighten out when tension is applied thereto during final pulling of said stretcher members into linear relation.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said auxiliary slide comprises a resilient pawl normally urged inwardly toward said stick, said stick including an upper section attached to the crown, said stick section having a lateral opening in which said pawl will engage, said opening being so oriented to dispose the linear stretcher members pivotally connected to said auxiliary runner at substantially right angles to said stick when the frame is errected.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said pawl is molded integral with said auxiliary runner and includes an angular control surface extending through the opening in said upper stick section, said pawl having an upper abutment surface engageable with an upper portion of said opening for retaining said auxiliary runner in a relatively fixed position on said upper stick section, the stick including a lower section telescopically received in said upper stick section and having an upper portion engageable with said pawl control surface for disengaging the pawl abutment surface out of said opening after the lower stick section is substantially telescoped in the upper stick section whereby the sequence of operation of the collapsing of stretcher means is permitted by downward movement of said auxiliary runner on the stick.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said stretcher members are generally U-shaped in cross section and are mutually reversed to open in opposite directions along their length whereby the inner member will substantially nest within said outer member when the frame is collapsed toward the stick as the stretcher members pivot downwardly toward each other and the runners move downwardly on the stick.

6. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1 in which said auxiliary runner includes a resilient pawl integral therewith, said telescopic stick including an opening for receiving said pawl, said opening being spaced from said crown to form a structural triangle between said stick, stretcher and strut means when the pawl is engaged in said opening. 

1. An umbrella frame having a telescopic stick; a crown at one end of the stick; dome ribs hinged to the crown, each dome rib comprising telescopically related sections; a main runner slidably mounted on the stick; an auxiliary runner slidably mounted on the stick for movement between the main runner and the crown; stretcher means pivotally connected to the auxiliary runner and the dome ribs, said stretcher means including mutually hinged inner and outer members foldable downwardly toward each other at a hinge point, the outer member being pivotally connected to the dome ribs and having an extension portion extending beyond said hinge point; struts hinged to the main runner and to the inner members of the stretcher means in spaced relation between said auxiliary runner and said hinge point, the improvement comprising link means hingedly connected to the struts below the hinged connection of the struts to said inner members, said link means being hingedly connected to the extension portion of said outer members in spaced relation from said hinge point, the link means, hinge connections, portions of said strut means, eXtension portion, and inner member forming a quadrilateral beneath said stretcher means and being so constructed and arranged to apply tension to said link means when the frame is erected to pull on the extension portion of said outer member for drawing the outer stretcher member into linear relation with said inner member beneath a portion of said inner stretcher member.
 2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said link means comprises an intermediately bowed wire which tends to straighten out when tension is applied thereto during final pulling of said stretcher members into linear relation.
 3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said auxiliary slide comprises a resilient pawl normally urged inwardly toward said stick, said stick including an upper section attached to the crown, said stick section having a lateral opening in which said pawl will engage, said opening being so oriented to dispose the linear stretcher members pivotally connected to said auxiliary runner at substantially right angles to said stick when the frame is errected.
 4. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said pawl is molded integral with said auxiliary runner and includes an angular control surface extending through the opening in said upper stick section, said pawl having an upper abutment surface engageable with an upper portion of said opening for retaining said auxiliary runner in a relatively fixed position on said upper stick section, the stick including a lower section telescopically received in said upper stick section and having an upper portion engageable with said pawl control surface for disengaging the pawl abutment surface out of said opening after the lower stick section is substantially telescoped in the upper stick section whereby the sequence of operation of the collapsing of stretcher means is permitted by downward movement of said auxiliary runner on the stick.
 5. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said stretcher members are generally U-shaped in cross section and are mutually reversed to open in opposite directions along their length whereby the inner member will substantially nest within said outer member when the frame is collapsed toward the stick as the stretcher members pivot downwardly toward each other and the runners move downwardly on the stick.
 6. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1 in which said auxiliary runner includes a resilient pawl integral therewith, said telescopic stick including an opening for receiving said pawl, said opening being spaced from said crown to form a structural triangle between said stick, stretcher and strut means when the pawl is engaged in said opening. 